A SPECIAL PLACE
Hawk High Over
Four Corners
Photographs by ADRIEL HEISEY
"This country turns its bones
to the sky. Ancient turmoils
scrawl across every expanse,
andhidden energies heave
at its tough hide." From
the seat of his aircraft
open to the weather and the
world-photographerAdriel
Heisey senses that the land
is alive. He passes slowly,
headinginto the wind at
"raptorheight."
Heisey came here as a
pilot whose job was to land
in remote terrainand bring
out members of the Navajo
Nation who requiredmedical
care. Heflew many missions,
and "the ground beneath my
wings spoke to me." So he
built an experimental aircraft
designedfor photography.
Once two young Navajo men
watchedhim take off into a
hard,cold wind. When he
struggledback, one pulled out
a webbed talisman known as
a dreamcatcher. "We sold 'em
all, except this one. It's to
keep you safe when you fly."